Marine insurers brace for trade route shifts amid geopolitical risks
Marine insurers are preparing for changes in global trade routes and growing geopolitical risks even as fresh industry data showed the underlying market remained soft despite a rise in premium income in 2025. Global marine insurance premium income rose 5.5% year over year to $42.6 billion in 2025, according to figures released by the International ...
Marine insurance companies are anticipating shifts in global trade routes and rising geopolitical risks, according to data from the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI). Despite a 5.5% increase in marine insurance premium income to $42.6 billion in 2025, the market remains soft due to factors like increased competition, inflation, and uncertainty surrounding free trade.
Marine insurers, however, continue to provide coverage in riskier regions, aware that geopolitical shifts may force trade adjustments. The increase in war risk premiums, particularly in the Red Sea, has already influenced market figures for 2025 and is expected to have a greater impact in 2026. Insurers must adapt to changing trade patterns and emerging markets resulting from geopolitical developments, as military conflicts push vessels to safer routes, raising energy costs and demand.
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